Be interesting to read the answers on this. My thoughts are, there was an option for automatic boxes on beetles so yes in theory you could get an automatic box and possibly convert it to work in a bus but a lot of work and I haven’t seen an auto 1600 beetle for ages, so that will be difficult to source and probably a lot of man hours and money to do the conversion. Easier to retro fit a type 4 and box I’d think.
Weren’t the bug boxes slightly different from a normal auto box? The thing is I’ve most of a rebuilt 1776 type 1 engine already
Your problem would be mating the torque converter to the type-1 crank. Otherwise I don't see why it wouldn't work, most if not all auto type-4s were 1700.
A wasserboxer crank has the same flywheel/flex plate attachment as Type 4 air-cooled and would fit a Type 1 if the case was machined for a Type 4 #1 main bearing – that’s what Laurie did.
I’m not sure I just know they existed as an option and were relatively rare. As Zed says it’s probably do-able. I would say it would be a long winded faff but I’m of the opinion that anything that requires work and thought to that degree is probably not worth the effort as I get older
Not quite, he went full on Wasser thrust with 3 piece thrust bearing. Wasser, it's different again. A type-4 barrels aren't spaced like a type-1 but a wasser has the same spacing. Mine was a 76mm crank from a 2.1L but they're relatively rare. In all honesty unless you had a workshop and machining equipment it's not worth the effort. On the other hand I think AA performance sells type-1 cranks with Type-4 flywheel end. At that point though as suggested above might be better choice to buy an Ebay complete 1700 type-4 and rebuild it. Then finish your 1776 and flog that off.
£117 for a wasser crank bearing set, throw most of it away because you also need IIRC a type-4 main bearing set @£100. Starting to get expensive! These have more than doubled since I rebuilt mine.
I think Poptop might be referring to semi-auto beetles - 3 speed manual with a torque converter - press a button style shift instead of clutch. Parts probably impossible to get and the whole lot too weedy for a heavy bus I'd expect.
Here you go - 3k for a whole bus with a gamble auto gearbox and an 1800 engine. Part out the rest and might break even... if you could be bothered with all that. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204566044156?hash=item2fa1161dfc:g:7DYAAOSwrhJlS6NW&amdata=enc:AQAIAAAAwEcYoTJPYBFzWh1VK1E+lVwdgIz+hN9/M1Hl9V9F33DnDE5nsZEY8ngJ7j6rWTBUcJ7Me4C8I1uVLneOgg29Ba498YMknu0iRW3ZZa66gJqvH4NTjR546QbVL/fsHiEhL8jZ35oCsplsUx0ZqgBOGZtOp5AWCe/OoX+hpkoiSLZDAk0QF1mWlmQ09K11KNzvoGo7pr9rSLk6sWuC+IPn5xNxpi0R7PbBssNi3eoFYQ183YJDphwU9BgfQDo0+4IYyg==|tkp:Bk9SR5jW8MSIYw
Cheers for all the info it’s appreciated. I think if it gets to the point I can’t manage the clutch pedal anymore then it will be time for a different vehicle
That would be a shame. I don't there would be any point changing your existing gearbox. Just too much hassle.
I wonder if a hydraulic clutch conversion would be possible to ease things up. But then again my daily drive is hydraulic and I struggle with that in stop start traffic through town.
Would a beetle torque converter work in a bay auto box? https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/33476929...zxsTcaXQ-q&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
Hydraulic clutch with a servo ? Father in law spoke about fitting one to his old Aston Martin. He wont ever get round to it though ha ha
In all honesty with the amount of time and effort you’ve put into your van I’d explore the option Zed presented you with. Go for a 1700 with auto box and sell your engine to finance it. The 1700 is probably the best engine of the lot ( in my limited opinion) and the point you’re at re the rebuild is a perfect time to explore this option and possibly get a bargain as secondhand items seem hard to shift atm!
